Uganda and South Africa held trade and travel talks in Pretoria from 15 to 20 October. The aim was to turn their long friendship into real gains for business.
Technical meetings were set to feed into a ministerial session on Tuesday, 20 October. Officials from customs, revenue and standards agencies of both countries took part, NTV Uganda reported.
“Market access to the South African market is huge. There is tremendous potential for exports,” Ugandan official Kabonero said.
He said the chance goes beyond South Africa to the wider SADC region. Ugandan goods already reach Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe, he said.
Kabonero said the officials in Pretoria were working on problems that slow down trade between the two countries. These include differences in customs systems, product standards and paperwork, which can delay goods and raise costs.
“We have everybody in the room to remove all the bottlenecks to enhancing this cooperation in trade and investment,” he said.
“We need to expedite the processes, whether it’s in travel clearances, whether it’s making ease of doing business by removing unnecessary delays,” Kabonero added.
He named logistics, warehousing and oil and gas as areas where business ties could grow. He also said South African firms should build closer links with Uganda’s business community.
Flights were another part of the talks. Kabonero said the two sides were working on air service deals, including Fifth Freedom rights for Uganda Airlines on the Johannesburg to Lusaka route.
Such rights let an airline carry passengers or cargo between two foreign countries on a service linked to its home country. Kabonero said more cargo space could help Ugandan companies reach regional markets.
Travel rules were also on the table. South Africa has added Ugandan passport holders to its Electronic Travel Authorisation system. Eligible travellers can now apply online before they travel.
Kabonero said the two governments want to build on this with a visa waiver, mainly for students going to South African schools and universities. Officials were also working on a deal for the return of nationals refused entry.
Asked about Ugandan traders in South Africa losing confidence, Kabonero said the problems must be fixed. “The damage has to be repaired, the sentiments are bad,” he said.
He said Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had told officials to work quickly with the relevant agencies to solve these issues.
Uganda’s Ambassador to South Africa, Paul Amoru, said good relations must bring real results. “It is not enough to celebrate excellent bilateral relations if it is not translating to tangible outcomes or benefits,” he said.
Amoru said officials had agreed on the details of documents on returning nationals refused entry. They also agreed on a proposed visa waiver for holders of ordinary passports.
He said the Electronic Travel Authorisation system had cut costs and delays for Ugandan travellers. The wider visa waiver is still being negotiated.
The joint commission between the two countries dates back to 2008. Its second meeting was held in Kampala in 2022, Amoru said.
Kabonero said the technical teams were expected to draw up a plan with timelines and clear targets. “We expect to sign about two MOUs and two agreements,” he said.
He said the memoranda of understanding had been cleared and were ready for signing. The formal agreements will still need to be ratified in both Uganda and South Africa.
Source: this article is based on reporting by NTV Uganda. Image: NTV Uganda. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Business desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Anelisa Nkuna covers business and money news for Tzaneen Voice. Anelisa reports on the rand, fuel prices, interest rates, jobs, Eskom, Transnet, farming and company results. The aim is simple: explain what the numbers mean for household budgets, small businesses and workers in South Africa.